Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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VWS, VALPARAISO PARALLEL IN SRO WW 1973 stands no differ- ent than any other year, essentially. Students still skip out of last hour gym class, vie for student coun- cil president, and back the Vikings . Yet, there is one distinguishing factor that separates this year from all others; Valparaiso High School is 100 years old. Valparaiso ' s population in the late 1800 ' s was 4- 5000. While most folks lived rurally, those who chose in-town dwellings settled primarily on Wash- ington, Franklin, and Laf- ayette streets. Lincolnway housed the city’s busi- nesses. Heineman ' s Drug Store and Soda Fountain (later Siever ' s Drugs) served Val- paraiso’s medicinal and confectionary needs. Low- enstines, established in 1885, was one of the city’s first and largest depart- ment stores. Here, staples such as sugar, coffee, and flour were sold by the 25 pound sacks with bolts of calico and unbleached factory (muslin) for 5 cents a yard. Patrons of these stores arrived in town by horse and buggy. Valparaiso’s streets were nothing more than dirt. Spring rains made these roads impas- sable as horse and carts sank into eight to ten inches of mud. Later ma- cadam streets were built with cobblestone curbs. The Women ' s Christian Temperance Union of Val- paraiso was well under way by 1890. Their main function was to stop the flow of alcohol in the town. Yet, saloons and breweries such as Korn and Junker (located where the Ander- son Company now stands) thrived by producing their 2,000 barrels per annum. Two of the more well- remembered industries in the Valparaiso area were Crosbys and Sagers Mills. The old Crosby Mill stood where Sears Roebuck is now located. Farmers would bring their barrels of winter wheat to be ground into flour. Valpa- raiso’s early claim to fame was the only pin factory west of New York and one of four in the entire United States built in 1873 and located south of the Penn railroad. For those who could af- ford the time and money, theaters and dancing halls offered much in the way of entertainment. Theater prices varied from 10 cents for the gallery and 20 cents for the back of the main floor to 30 cents for the VIP’s. While the city grew and prospered, education was not standing idle. In 1870, the School Board provided Valparaiso with its first public school. Students from grades 1-12 consolidated into the Pres- byterian Collegiate Insti- tute to take courses in reading, ' riting, and ’rith- metic . The three R’s method of teaching worked for a short while, but was ousted by 1890. It became too old-fash- ioned and confining for teachers and students, alike, to work with. In- stead, more scientific methods were employed. Reading must be taught by a live teacher. The first thing to do is to get ac- quainted with the child. There must be perfect freedom and complete sympathy. The child must talk with the same tones which he uses at home or at play. All writing is to be done in pen except for arithme- tic. Erasers must not be used. There is no time for doing double work or for erasing. Strive to have all the work done properly the first time. For lack of better facil- i t i e s , commencements were held at the Memorial Opera House. Here, some 30 classes graduated from the Old Central School. Above: The 1894 VHS Commencement announce- ment Left: The Memorial Opera House Right: Valparaiso in the late 1800 ' s